Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger Episodes 14-15: Two More Serious Than Usual Episodes In A Row

Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger started with lighthearted vibes. Sure, I'm not doing episode reviews like I used to. I can be updated with the shows at MY OWN PACE. Episodes 14 and 15 have darker tones -- unlike the latest episode (the introduction of the Sixth Ranger). I felt unusually heavy since most episodes were on the balanced side. 

Bakuage 14 has some tense drama build-up

What creeps me out is the line that Mira said to Shashiro in Bakuage 14. It gets really emotional. It doesn't help Yuka got admitted to a hospital a few days earlier before passing away. Mira's lines really get emotional. I feel the emotional tensions being spoken After 13 episodes of mostly near-TV-Y7-FV episodes -- we get some emotional tensions. Did anybody say PG-7 shouldn't have sad moments? Super Sentai may have been toned down since 2001 -- probably a kneejerk after Mirai Sentai Timeranger may often be berated for being overly serious or serious for the sake of it. Miya's rightfully berating Shashiro for his reckless behavior. It shows that no matter how superhero shows go soft -- there will always be hard moments. 

Mira mentions that Shashiro COULD DIE is a really tough situation. Just because Super Sentai toned down for most of its run -- doesn't mean death can't be mentioned. Mira calls Shashiro a fool for not caring about his own life. I can't blame Mira for saying that. 

Bakuage 15 further adds up another sad story to contemplate

Super Sentai's toning down allowed more villains to reform to tell the tale. Yatsudenwani from Bakuryuu Sentai Abaranger became a running gag and made some non-canon appearances. Chojin Sentai Jetman had one out-of-place episode by Naruhisa Arakawa -- a time when he probably wasn't sure of what he wanted to do as a writer. Jou befriending Kaseki Guruma is another episode that's sad while it had a few funny scenes. This reminds me of Kosoku Sentai Turboranger where Daiichi befriended Sumo Bouma. Neither Sumo Bouma nor Kaseki Guruma made it. Both were turned into mindless beasts where Death Equals Redemption.

I read through DryedMangoez and I'll share this excerpt from the episode thoughts:

Not Boonboomger making me tear up two weeks in a row!

But really though, what was the point of this episode? Was it just to make us sad and depressed? Because it worked! huhu

It was so unnecessarily sad and emotional and dramatic.

And somehow I loved it! lol

Seriously! Honestly, I really don’t get what the point of the episode was other than to show Jou is really a great guy. And also to show the harsh reality that even if the Hashiryans can be goofy and clumsy, they’re also pretty much heartless. Cannonborg, obviously is. But the General3 were just more sad they didn’t have a new monster car to play with.

I think that can be a great thing and certainly continues to build them up as legitimately dangerous and frightening threats. Don’t let the goofy exteriors fool you, I guess. And considering the season’s lighter tone overall, it also tracks with the idea that the season as a whole is lulling us into a false sense of security leading up to the darker moments later on.

I think this episode felt so heavy because it really was the first time we got something much more dramatic and emotional versus the sillier and more heartwarming moments of the past 14 episodes. Especially last week which was, next to this one, probably the most dramatic so far. Yet still had a lot of lighthearted fun.

This episode was just pure heartbreak. From the big moments to the little moments.

Some speculation...

Toei probably decided to air these episodes in Yuka Motohashi's memory. Episode 14 really talks about death as a critical matter. Yuka died of cancer on May 30, 2024 -- after two years of battling it. Yuka showed up as Sonoya in Avataro Sentai Donbrothers. Yuka played Ant Queen in Kamen Rider Amazons -- a mature spin-off that's not for children. I really wonder if there's a curse of the spandex. After all, we've had cases of Super Sentai, Kamen Rider, and Power Rangers cast members who are gone too soon. Yuka's no different either. 

Power Rangers Time Force's episode "Circuit Unsure" was dedicated to Thuy Trang. The episode's credits started with the episode in Thuy's memory. It was only aired on October 17, 2001. If I recall correctly -- there was a mourning period of how many days after September 11, 2001. The episode had Circuit run off because his memory was tampered with. Sure, it's lighter than what Mirai Sentai Timeranger did to Tock. However, Circuit running off and the terrorist attack involved (a self-destruct button) in the episode are HEAVY STUFF. It can be noted that tribute episodes usually don't come out immediately either.